Specialized Levo vs Kenevo: Which E-MTB is best for you?
When it comes to e-MTB’s two of the biggest and best bikes you are going to hear about are the Specialized Levo and the Kenevo. Many professionals use them and, since release, have become well-known in the community.
We are asked a lot of questions about both these bikes, but one that comes up often is which is best. In this article, we will discuss just that and answer that question for you. We will talk about the differences, the history, pricing, and much more.
Who is Specialized anyway?
Specialized is a big brand and one of the most popular in cycling. Starting in 1974, when Mike Sinyard was importing Italian cycling components into the US, it eventually evolved into selling its own bikes.
With famous bikes such as the Stumpjumper and the Tarmac, they are well-loved by weekend warriors and professional cyclists. They have also expanded into almost every type of bike and are well known for their quality and attention to detail.
The Specialized Levo
The Specialized Levo is an electric mountain bike that is made for the trails. It’s known for its versatility and performance and is designed to be a great all-rounder on multiple terrains. It’s a very friendly geometry and can be easily utilized by beginners and experts alike.
The Levo is well known because it's not just a great bike but it is incredibly popular amongst many off-road riders. You will often see them on trails, and they are built to last year after year, unlike cheaper e-bikes from unknown brands.
The Specialized Kenevo
The Specialized Kenevo is an electric bike like the Levo, but it is made a little more aggressive, focusing more on enduro riding than trail riding. It is made for riders who want to push their limits and take themselves to those more extreme trails.
The Kenevo is not as well known as the Levo. The superior downhill abilities, performance, and technical handling make this bike the preferred option for riders looking for something to give them an edge on rough terrain.
Comparison of the Kenevo and Levo
When did the Levo and Kenevo come about?
The Levo was first introduced in 2015. It was Specialized's first attempt at a trail bike in the e-MTB sector and was a quick success. People loved the design, didn’t think it was rushed, and knew it was going to be very popular.
Since starting, the Levo has been fine-tuned to be the amazing machine it is today. New technology has been integrated, it got a few new versions including the SL (Superlight), and has even seen better battery efficiency. It is often used in many e-MTB trail competitions.
The Kenevo was introduced a couple of years later, in 2017. It was the enduro version of an e-MTB bike. The bike was catered for e-MTB riders who wanted something that could handle more aggressive terrain and tackle rougher trails.
Like the Levo, the Kenevo, over the years, has been fine-tuned to be faster. With top components and the right geometry, the Kenevo is consistently seen in enduro competitions and not shy of the podium.
What do the Specialized Levo vs Kenevo look like?
The Specialized Levo is a sleek-looking bike. It has a very modern design and looks clean, with a lot of the components being internal. It's not just designed to look good. It’s designed to be functional. Like many mountain bikes, they come in vibrant colors and stand out on the trails.
The Specialized Kenevo has a meaner look to it with a more aggressive geometry and robust styling. With reinforced frame joints, larger tires, and enhanced suspension linkage, it has a little more edge than the Levo.
What makes the Specialized Levo vs Kenevo so different?
To fully understand these two amazing e-MTBs, you must understand their differences. Although they look similar, they are completely different bikes. Here’s what makes them so different from each other.
Intended Use
The first place to start is by mentioning that they are designed for different types of riding. The Levo is more cross-country and mixed light trail riding, and the Kenevo is more designed for enduro and much tougher, more challenging trails.
They can both be used for racing in e-MTB competitions, but you will find for the tougher off-road competitions, the Kenevo is going to be the better option. For lighter, faster conditions, the Levo is the better option.
Geometry
Next, we have the geometry. This is the position that the rider is put in when riding the bike. The Levo is relaxed and better for longer distances and those epic all-day rides. The Kenevo is more aggressive and suited to racing.
Suspension
The Levo and the Kenevo also have different suspension systems. The Levo has cross-country suspension, which is typically around 130mm on the front and 120mm on the back. The Kenevo is 160mm on the front and 150mm on the back. More travel adds to ability but also weight.
Motor and battery
Although both these bikes have the 2.1 Specialized motor and battery, the Kenevo is supposedly tuned with higher torque, making it quicker off the mark and better up hills. The Levo is more tuned for a smoother ride.
Weight
The weight of these bikes does differ. The Levo is generally lighter than the Kenevo, but that's down to the components needing to be heavier to increase technical ability. With the same components, the weight would be nearly identical.
Price
When it comes to pricing, the Kenevo is more expensive, but not by much. The difference comes mainly in the components it has. As with many Specialized bikes they come at many different prices depending on specification. We speak more about this in the next section.
Latest Market Trends for Pricing and Availability
When it comes to bikes such as the Specialized Levo vs Kenevo, it’s good to understand the trends in pricing and availability.
Specialized Levo
The Levo ranges from $5,000 up to $12,000. They are not budget bikes and are right at the top end of technology when it comes to e-MTBs. Depending on the specification depends on the price. For the best electric gearing and suspension, you are going to pay $12,000.
The Levo is a very popular bike, and because of this, you always find availability throughout the whole range. It’s something a lot of Specialized stores will keep in stock and plenty of opportunities for test riding.
Specialized Kenevo
The Kenevo ranges from around $6,000 up to $13,000. It is more expensive than the Levo, but this doesn’t come down to the frame, motor, or battery. It is the components around it that make the difference more than anything.
When it comes to availability, the Kenevo can be a little harder to get. Not so much at the budget models but the higher-end models. This is because they are generally not as popular and you find that fewer shops keep them.
Choosing the Right Bike for Your Riding Style
When it comes to choosing between the Specialized Levo vs Kenovo, there’s one clear indicator. What type of riding do you want to do?
Why should you choose the Levo?
The Levo is a bike designed for mixed riding trails and general riding. The bike is all about functionality and also creating an excellent user experience on rough roads. It’s more set up for cross-country riders than anything else or recreational cyclists who just like to get out every so often.
Why should you choose the Kenovo?
The Kenevo is a bike which is designed for enduro riding. These are tough trails and very complex descents. It has more ability than the Levo but weighs more because of it, and it also comes at a slightly higher price.
What’s best?
Both the Levo and the Kenevo are great electric mountain bikes. They both offer an incredible experience and will be fun to ride. One is not better than the other. They are just designed for different purposes, that’s all.
We often get asked questions about different versions of the bikes such as Specialized Turbo Kenevo vs Levo, Specialized Levo vs Kenevo 2022, Specialized Kenevo SL vs Levo SL, and Specialized Levo SL vs Kenevo SL. It's important to check the specifications between model when looking into more detail. In this article, we speak about the bike overall.
Where to buy a Levo or Kenevo?
You don’t just have to go to Specialized to buy a Levo or a Kenevo. You might actually find investing secondhand for a much higher specification model just previously used. You can do this on buycycle, and not only do you save thousands of dollars, you do get the buyer protection you require.
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